Assignment Instructions:

Part I: Investing Behavior:

What are the various types of investors? Complete the interactive investor profile questionnaire. According to this instrument, what kinds of investments should you consider?

Write an introduction to your essay that provides a profile for yourself as an investor.

What else can you find out about investing behavior--for example, does your profile change over time as you age or does it remain the same?

How would your profile assist you and your financial advisor or investment advisor in planning your portfolio?

Part II: Recognizing Fraud

What is a pyramid scheme exactly? Have you ever participated in or invested in such a scheme? Have you ever been a victim of one?

Research and discuss this topic in this part of your project. According to the Investopedia article, why can it be difficult to detect a pyramid scheme? What are some possible tip-offs to this kind of fraud?

Why are pyramid schemes unsustainable? Who are the victims? Provide a diagram illustrating the dynamics of pyramid schemes.

Part III: Famous Scandals

Survey the Web site of a 2009 60 Minutes CBS broadcast on the Madoff affair, which includes articles, video.

According to this site, who discovered the Madoff fraud and how? Who were Madoff's victims?

Visit the support group Web site created for the victims.

In the CBS video, how did Madoff defend himself? Read a Wall Street Journal article, explaining how Madoff's Ponzi scheme was able to succeed.

How did investor biases contribute to this success?

How did biases in regulatory oversight contribute to the fraud?

Why did representatives and senators focus their criticism on the Securities and Exchange Commission?

Use the template provided. Follow APA format, including a title page, introduction, conclusion, citations, and five scholarly references (not Wikipedia or Investopedia).

Your final project should be 4-5 pages in length.